Recent violence prompts student trip to Angola

Students from three Thibodaux schools gather outside the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola earlier this month, where they met inmate Theortric Givens, 46, who was convicted of two counts of manslaughter at the age of 15.

Published: Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at 11:52 p.m.

A recent string of violence in the area resulted in trip for local students to get educated at the state penitentiary earlier this month.

East Thibodaux Middle, West Thibodaux Middle and Thibodaux High school students heard from Theortric Givens, an inmate who has spent 31 years in prison at Angola.

Convicted of two counts of manslaughter in New Orleans when he was 15 years old, Givens, now 46, still has 49 years remaining on his sentence. He will be eligible for release when he is 95, if he serves all those years.

"(Givens is) a perfect example of what we're trying to display to the kids," Thibodaux Police Capt. Calvin Cooks said.

Thibodaux City Councilwoman Constance Johnson said Givens' message to the students was about the choices they make.

Givens described the settings he deals with every day, including living behind bars without air-conditioning in the Louisiana heat.

Cooks said he told the kids to remember every detail about the ride to the prison and how the world is progressing because for some people that is a one-way trip.

"Imagine taking this trip and watching all of the new construction and the new buildings and the new cars and never being able to see that again. Many people take that trip and never come back home," he said.

The prison visit was not meant to be a scare tactic, Cooks said, but rather an educational experience.

"We're not trying to scare them. We're trying to educate them on making the right choices," he said.

Givens said he couldn't blame his problems on a poor upbringing. He came from a very good home, but made the wrong choices, Johnson said.

Cooks said he has received calls from parents who have told him the message was well received.

Givens is "a very experienced tour speaker. He's talked to a number of our tour groups, and he always does an excellent job in educating them," penitentiary public information officer Gary Young said.

Johnson and Cooks have sponsored trips to the prison before, but in recent years they have held a "Boys to Men" retreat for young men in the parish. However, after a string of recent slayings in both Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes they thought a visit to Angola would be appropriate.

"With the recent violence that has plagued our community, we are tasked with encouraging our children to put down their weapons and pick up a book and educate themselves about making the right choices," Johnson said.

Johnson said she hoped the visit would encourage the children to understand that the decisions they make now could affect them for the rest of their lives.

"We must continue the fight to save the children by affording them opportunities to see and hear for themselves what happens when they make the wrong choices," Johnson said. "One wrong choice can change your life. Good choices will allow you to become a successful individual and make a positive difference in the community."

Staff Writer Jacob Batte can be reached at 448-7635 or jacob.batte@dailycomet.com. Follow him on Twitter @ja_batte

<p>A recent string of violence in the area resulted in trip for local students to get educated at the state penitentiary earlier this month. </p><p>East Thibodaux Middle, West Thibodaux Middle and Thibodaux High school students heard from Theortric Givens, an inmate who has spent 31 years in prison at Angola.</p><p>Convicted of two counts of manslaughter in New Orleans when he was 15 years old, Givens, now 46, still has 49 years remaining on his sentence. He will be eligible for release when he is 95, if he serves all those years. </p><p>"(Givens is) a perfect example of what we're trying to display to the kids," Thibodaux Police Capt. Calvin Cooks said. </p><p>Thibodaux City Councilwoman Constance Johnson said Givens' message to the students was about the choices they make. </p><p>Givens described the settings he deals with every day, including living behind bars without air-conditioning in the Louisiana heat. </p><p>Cooks said he told the kids to remember every detail about the ride to the prison and how the world is progressing because for some people that is a one-way trip. </p><p>"Imagine taking this trip and watching all of the new construction and the new buildings and the new cars and never being able to see that again. Many people take that trip and never come back home," he said. </p><p>The prison visit was not meant to be a scare tactic, Cooks said, but rather an educational experience. </p><p>"We're not trying to scare them. We're trying to educate them on making the right choices," he said. </p><p>Givens said he couldn't blame his problems on a poor upbringing. He came from a very good home, but made the wrong choices, Johnson said. </p><p>Cooks said he has received calls from parents who have told him the message was well received. </p><p>Givens is "a very experienced tour speaker. He's talked to a number of our tour groups, and he always does an excellent job in educating them," penitentiary public information officer Gary Young said. </p><p>Johnson and Cooks have sponsored trips to the prison before, but in recent years they have held a "Boys to Men" retreat for young men in the parish. However, after a string of recent slayings in both Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes they thought a visit to Angola would be appropriate. </p><p>"With the recent violence that has plagued our community, we are tasked with encouraging our children to put down their weapons and pick up a book and educate themselves about making the right choices," Johnson said. </p><p>Johnson said she hoped the visit would encourage the children to understand that the decisions they make now could affect them for the rest of their lives.</p><p>"We must continue the fight to save the children by affording them opportunities to see and hear for themselves what happens when they make the wrong choices," Johnson said. "One wrong choice can change your life. Good choices will allow you to become a successful individual and make a positive difference in the community."</p><p>Staff Writer Jacob Batte can be reached at 448-7635 or jacob.batte@dailycomet.com. Follow him on Twitter @ja_batte</p>